Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-27
CITY AND DISTRICT.
CLuBBrNG COIORED WEN.
Colored Citizens object 60 tine Per.
nicions Activity OF New Policemen.
TIE CLUBBING OF W. ELLIs-rHE MATTER TALKED
OWN At NEErISG-A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO
ENGAGE COUNSEL

TIE CLUBBING OF wx. KLLIs-rHE MATTER TALKED
ovEK At HEETTSG-A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO
ENGAGE COUNSEL
A meeting OF cOlOred citizens was held last
night a Carsons Hotel, No. 326 Pennsylva-
MA avenue. 20 take action In reference 70
the conduct OF Officer narrower In assaulting
WIN. Ellis. q colorcd prisoner, a few weeks ago.
Mr. j. W Freeman presided with Mr.. W. II. Jones
secretary. The chairman said the object was not
20 consiIcr the right OF the Olcsr 10 make the ar
r-sI There was no citizen too high TO be arrested,
even PRESIDENT Grant had been arrested. The
question was whether Ellis could not have been
arrested without being dubbed II he was loud
and bolsterOus the officer had the right and IL was
his duty 70 arrest him.
MASS MEETING ISADvTsABLR.
Mr. CarsOn said that the committee did not
think II advisable To have a mass meeting for
there was sufficient law TO bring the ocer 10 jus
tice lie had been TO the neighborhoOd and ascer-
tanned that there was nothing 20 warrant the ar
r.St. AMI h. had been 20 SEE Ellis whose eye, he
SAID was sweiled up big fist The ques-
tion was MT as To Ellis only. but whether police
Officers can Unfortunately cluD people OF color.
He SAIL that policeman recently assaulted col
ored woman. choking her, making II necessary for
a physician TO D. called In, and the only redress
the woman had was that the case was dismissed.
He believed the white people generally when they
heard The facts would approve their course. Ellis
Ind In this matter been misrepresrnted, for he had
the papers state that he Is twenty five years OF
az, when he Is fftytwO, and an OLD and respected
citizen.
ADVANTAGES ENJOYED By THE POLICE.
The chairman said he lived In the neighborhood
OF a police station, and he was n witness to the
assault Mr. Carson mentioned, and the woman
felt the effects Of the choking for q week. They
did not want the brutal treatment to continue.
He was not opposed To the officers All good citi-
zens' whSn arrested. should submit and seek re.
dress afterward- There were many good Officers,
and he was glad 20 say that there was little TO
complain u as 20 the older, experienced Officers.
The Officers have the advantage, for IL Is well
known that &c takes double the amount OF testi-
mOny 10 Offset an officers evidence than that of
a private citizen With some, particularly the
new Ones all that was necessary to bring out the
club was that the ofIicer should know that the
had bsen engaged In this case, and he had no
doubt but II would be thoroughly Investigated
lie had ssen Ellis and learned that the baton had
cut tn OUgh his hat, and IL would be some days
before he would be out He could not help but
express his Indignation at the assault on a woman,
referred TO by Mr.. Carson, Had she been my
wife" be said, .sthe world would not be large
enough for that officer and me-" II the treatment
they complained OF continues the coored people
liable TO arrest and every one peace officer,
liable 20 be called on 10 assist the officers. There
were plenty OF such around had the of1cer needed
help and summoned them IL was more than
they dared do 10 refuse 10 aid an oficer; but the
officer saw NJ TO Use his club.
J. &. GunneIl said from what he had learned
have retained his place under the Government for
fifteen years. His case was not the case OF poor
Coleman OF Bloody Field. who, he said, was bru-
tally killed by an officer who Is to-day on duty.
Mr.. Freeman said that he did not think II right
10 refer tO case when the Investigation had ac-
quilted the officer.
NOT FAIR PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Gunnell replied that IL was not the case
Ellis only they complained OF, but others In the
last fifteen years eight colored men had been killed
by policemen How many white men had been so
treateds Not one. One-third OF the arrests made
are white. and n there was not prejudice on &C
count OF color one-third OF the killed should be
white.
Mr.. Knox Brown said that there was nothing for
them To do Till the trial, and they should watch
and see that Ellis Is justly dealt with and that the
or1cer has justice meted out To him
Mr. Jones said that IN the Coleman case 8 lady
witness had been spirited away, and they should
SEE that no witness for Ellis Is served likewise.
They had too much law and not enough equity.
Messrsl Gunnell Brown and Carson were ap-
pointed committee TO employ counsel